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Friday, 8 May 2020

Ghana's Dancing Pallbearers - Now a Famous Meme - Share Message Thanking Coronavirus Doctors Around The World And Urging People: 'Stay At Home, Or You Dance With Us!'

The video, shared online by lead pallbearer Benjamin Aidoo, shows the seven men dressed head-to-toe in white, complete with gloves and face masks as they applaud doctors. One sits at the front wearing a red sash and leads the heartwarming message thanking the healthcare workers. The troupe went viral back in 2017 after BBC Africa shared a video showing their flamboyant coffin-carrying dances. While they're known on the internet as the Ghana Dancing Pallbearers, their true name is the Nana Otafrija Pallbearing and Waiting Service.'You are working hard and taking care of everyone', he adds, before flashing a quick thumbs up. As the 20-second clip draws to a close, the pallbearer points to the camera and chuckles: 'Now remember to stay at home - or dance with us!'The clip was shared to Aidoo's 51,000 Instagram followers and has since been viewed more than 61,000 times. The troupe of pallbearers went viral back in 2017 after BBC Africa shared a video showing their flamboyant coffin-carrying dances.They found fame when the footage was streamed all over the world - with the group's impressive choreography even included in a music video.The pallbearers were filmed as they transformed the funeral process into performances, dropping to the floor and bouncing the coffin on their backs and legs to the beat of traditional, live music. While they're known on the internet as the Ghana Dancing Pallbearers, their true name is the Nana Otafrija Pallbearing and Waiting Service.Adoo previously told the BBC that the dancing routines were implemented to add more options for funeral services to clients.He said: 'I decided to add choreography to it so if the client comes to us, we just ask them: "Do you want it solemn or do you want a bit more of a display? Or maybe you want some choreography on it?"'They just ask, and we do it.'

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The men have found a second-wave of fame amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Social media users have filmed their own versions of the the infamous dances to create dark-humoured memes - many of which have been shared by Aidoo himself online who praised the 'cool and creative videos'.

One such meme shows the pallbearers carrying a seemingly dead body on their shoulders as they dance to electronic music.

Another shows a woman coughing - an apparent nod to a key coronavirus their symptoms - before a group of men bounce a chair on their shoulders in lieu of a coffin.

Other meme videos from across the globe show delivery drivers bouncing food carriers on shoulders and in one, religious monuments are used in place of coffins.